PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Regular Meeting 6:00 PM
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
City Council Chambers
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
CHAIR
Danny Lee
PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS
Vice-Chair
Danielle Mead
Commissioner
Peter Bedard
Commissioner
Rich Malacoff
Commissioner
Roy MacPhail
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Danny Lee called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:
Danny Lee, Chair
Danielle Mead, Vice Chair
Rich Malacoff, Commissioner
Roy MacPhail, Commissioner
Peter Bedard, Commissioner
Members Absent:
None
Staff Present:
Andrew Firestine, Director of Community and Economic Development Sandra Molina, Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development Stephanie Gutierrez, Assistant City Attorney
Cynthia Schultz, Associate Planner
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chair Lee led the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA FINALIZATION
There were no changes to the agenda.
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no members of the public that wished to speak.
2. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
A. Zoning Ordinance Amendment 25-0004
Recommendation: Adopt a resolution recommending that the City Council approve an ordinance amending the Cathedral City Municipal Code, including the zoning ordinance, to amend the cannabis tax (chapter 3.48), licensing (chapter 5.88), permitting and zoning (chapter 9.108 and section 9.30.030), and enforcement (section 13.80.240) regulations related to cannabis uses and to amend various sections of the Municipal Code relating to administrative fines contained in titles 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11 and 14).
Andrew Firestine, Director of Community and Economic Development, provided the presentation and responded to questions.
Consultant, Armando Hurtado, SCS Engineers, responded to comments raised by the Commission.
Chair Lee opened the Public Hearing to receive public comments.
Public Comments:
Scott McDonald, Cathedral City, submitted written comments for the record.
Chair Lee closed the Public Hearing and returned discussion to the Commission.
The Commission took a brief recess at 7:51 p.m.
The Commission reconvened at 7:57 p.m.
A motion was made by Chair Lee and seconded by Commissioner MacPhail to approve staff’s recommendation as presented.
Discussion ensued regarding the implementation of separation requirements between cannabis businesses, and between cannabis uses and sensitive uses, including the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater, residential areas, adult daycares, places of worship, social service agencies, and parks.
Additionally, the Commission discussed the potential inclusion of a 7-day correction or cease operations action for odor-related issues, limits on the maximum size of cannabis cultivation facilities and public engagement requirements for future large cultivation facilities.
Following discussion, the Commission supported the deletion of cannabis cultivation uses in the PCC zone district, elected not to take action on any of the items discussed, with the exception of cannabis cultivation facility size limitations. The Commission expressed support for aligning the maximum size of future cannabis cultivation facilities to a maximum canopy area of 22,000 square feet, consistent with size limitations of the State’s Department of Cannabis Control, for large indoor cultivation facilities.
A motion was made by Vice Chair Mead and seconded Commissioner Bedard to accept an amendment to the proposed motion to include limits on the maximum size of cannabis cultivation facilities to 22,000 square feet of canopy area, in alignment with the State’s Department of Cannabis Compliance size categories and definition of a large indoor cultivation facility.
RESULT: PASS
MOVER: Danielle Mead, Vice-Chair
SECONDER: Peter Bedard, Commissioner
AYES: Lee, MacPhail, Mead, Bedard
NOES: Malacoff
A motion was made by Chair Lee and seconded by Commissioner MacPhail to adopt a resolution recommending that the City Council approve an ordinance amending the Cathedral City Municipal Code, including the zoning ordinance, to amend the cannabis tax (chapter 3.48), licensing (chapter 5.88), permitting and zoning (chapter 9.108 and section 9.30.030), and enforcement (section 13.80.240) regulations related to cannabis uses and to amend various sections of the Municipal Code relating to administrative fines contained in titles 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11 and 14) with the inclusion of limits on the maximum size of cannabis facilities to align with the State’s Department of Cannabis size categories and definition of a large indoor cultivation facility.
RESULT: PASS
MOVER: Danny Lee, Chair
SECONDER: Roy MacPhail, Commissioner
AYES: Lee, MacPhail, Mead, Bedard
NOES: Malacoff
3. NON-PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
A. Development Code Update
Recommendation: For discussion.
Cynthia Schultz, Associate Planner, provided the update.
This item was advisory with no formal action taken by the Commission.
4. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS
Commissioner Bedard inquired about certain medians in the City that are no longer landscaped.
Chair Lee recommended Commissioner Bedard speak with Public Works Manager Deanna Pressgrove for an update.
Commissioner Malacoff discussed the upcoming opportunity to tour the Kings School campus.
5. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS
There were no comments from the City Attorney.
6. STAFF COMMENTS
A. Work Plan and Future Agenda Items
There were no staff comments.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Lee adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m.
Danny Lee, Chair Andrew Firestine, Secretary
City of Cathedral City City of Cathedral City